Invest in Our Planet: Celebrating Earth Day 2022

‘Invest in our planet’ is this years theme for Earth Day and no one may relate to this better than Steven Napoli, President & CEO of TERRA (The Electronic Reuse and Recycling Alliance), the largest network of Certified Recyclers in North America. AVID has partnered with TERRA to provide a means to recycle audio devices. Read on to learn more about how Napoli founded TERRA, the state of e-waste recycling today and how to get involved.

An Alliance is Formed

Launched in March of 2019, Napoli, along with friend and business partner, Clarence Hollins, started TERRA as a way to connect Certified Recyclers across the country, giving them a voice as to why certification is so important in the marketplace. Napoli explains, “We came up with the idea of putting together an alliance of certified recyclers to do more than just check over their shoulders, but really partner with them to find new markets and explain to the business to business, as well as the business to consumer world, why certification mattered.”

Through this network, the Done with IT program began with a clear mission to provide a solution for e-recycling via mail-in, onsite and business services in a simple, secure, and sustainable method.

“There’s a big push for the neighborhood recycling bin, that recycles your plastics etc., but e-waste is difficult. There are so many e-waste recycling deserts, and the laws vary from state-to-state.” Further explains Napoli, “We want to provide resources to people that live in recycling deserts as well as underserved communities to be able to provide them with some access to sustainable recycling. That’s where Done with IT, as a program, was born.”

“For devices that are either non-functional or too outdated for reuse, access to a sustainable, secure recycling provider is essential. The recycling of high-value materials such as gold, silver, copper, palladium, etc. are critical to creating a circular, sustainable economy. And, more importantly, the safe recovery and processing of the dangerous toxins found in e-waste must be a priority to protect long-term human health and quality of life for generations to come.” (quote courtesy of donewithit.org)

Our Planet. Our Products. Our Company.

As the consumption and disposal of electronics continues exponentially, there is a vital need for more structure to be put in place surrounding e-waste, especially for technology companies. Nearly 100 percent of e-waste is able to be reused or recycled for materials recovery and an easy way of e-waste recycling is how TERRA’s Done with IT program is changing the game. As a proud partner of TERRA, AVID shares in the mission to invest in our planet through recycling our products and creating a company culture that values sustainability.

Says Napoli, “It’s really been a great partnership working with AVID Products over these last several months. Getting to know your team, seeing the culture and the way you all embrace, as a manufacturer, being responsible for what happens to the material you produce is very inspiring and refreshing.”

Napoli continues, “That’s kind of cutting edge thinking right now. There are a lot of companies that are doing it well, there are a lot of companies that are trying to get started and then there’s a lot that aren’t thinking about it at all. Where AVID is in terms of company culture, I appreciate that you are doing a great job. We really love this partnership and we expect it to continue for many years to come. We thank you and have a wonderful Earth Day.”

Invest in Our Planet

E-waste accounts for 70% of the dangerous toxins entering the waste stream, including lead, mercury, nickel, brominated flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and many others. Invest in our planet today by properly recycling your audio devices courtesy of AVID Products. To become a part of our Audio Device Recycling program, click here to get started or learn more about how it works. With TERRA and the Done with IT program, we know we are partnering with a responsible e-waste recycling solution that is truly making a difference.

 

#HappyEarthDay

Posted in

Elizabeth Woodard

Elizabeth is an employee-owner and Content & Social Media Strategist at AVID, where her passion for art, design, and writing converge. Dedicated to crafting narratives about the transformative power of audio, she aims to inspire others to explore its potential in enhancing human experiences across diverse backgrounds.

Leave a Comment